Figure 4.

Arteriogenesis. The increased shear stress forces produced by an arterial occlusion trigger the NO pathway activation, which in last term is the factor responsible for the onset of new functional collaterals. NO production inhibits VE-cadherin expression, which physiologically plays a pivotal role for maintaining the integrity of the vascular membrane, therefore allowing increased vascular permeability and monocytes and macrophages entry into the vascular wall. Blue arrows indicate stimulation and red arrows inhibition.

NO, nitric oxide; VE, vascular-endothelial.